Production of water-tight joints.



APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28T 1918.

S THORNTON PRODUCTION 0F WATER TIGHT JOINTS.

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r ricerca t U Aia-ij SAMUEL THORNTON, 0F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

PRODUCTION OF WATER-TIGHT JOINTS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Application filed March 28, 1918. Serial No. 225,372.

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL THORNTON, residing in Oakland, county ofAlameda, and State of California, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in the Production of lVater-Tifght Joints, of which thefollowing is a speci cation.

rhe invention is primarily adapted for making water-tight joints betweenthe planking of decks, floors, bulk heads, tanks, scow hulls, pontoonsand the like.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a joint betweenadjacent strips of planking which is water-tight but at the same time'permits a certain degree of eX- pansion and contraction. A furtherobject of the invention is to so construct the joint that a minimumamount of elastic waterproof composition is required in making thejoint, and a still further object is to eliminate the labor now requiredfor calking joints in similar work.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter described and more specifically pointed out in the appendedclaims; it being understood that changes in form, proportion, size andminor details of construction within the scope of the claims may beresorted to without departing :from the spirit of the invention orsacriiicing any of the advantages thereof.

Referring to the drawing forming a. part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing a portion of deckingconstructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in horizontal section through the same.

Referring to corresponding parts of the several views by the samenumerals of reference, my invention consists of providingthe plank lwith the triangular longitudinal recess 2 on eachedge thereof. As hereshown the opposite edges of the various planks are slightly beveled asshown at 3 whereby when the strips are placed edge to edge a convergingopening 4 is provided for the reception of a packing. The recesses ofadjacent strips form a substantially square or diamond-shaped openingbetween the two adjacent members and in this opening I provide a spline6 which accurately fits the opening.

The dimensions of the spline are such that when the planks are tightlypressed against opposite sides thereof they do not quite meet at thebottom of the converging crack. This insures that the joint is madealong the surface of the spline and the recesses rather than along thenarrow line at the inner end of the crack 4.

The spline I prefer to make of Port Oxford cedar which resists decay andthe attacks of insects to a greater degree than any other commercialwood.

Above the spline I pack the opening 4 with a suitable composition 7 tofurther eX- clude moisture. As here shown, I use, just above the spline,a packing which is elastic and tends to expand with heat. Or there maybe used pitch, melted asphaltum, or some composition embodying one ormore of these substances. These compositions may be melted and run inplace thus obviating much of the labor now required to hand calk jointsof this character.

The crack outside of the composition 7 I lill with cement 8 of anydesired composition principally for the purpose of giving a smoothexterior finish and to avoid the use of large amounts of pitch orsimilar lling composition.

A joint of this character will remain practically water-tight even ifthe planking shrinks away from the filling composition for the waterpressure on either the inside or outside presses the spline as a wedgeagainst the two opposite. faces. Furthermore, this spline being small,quickly eX- ands under the influence of moisture and fills the entirecavity.

I claim as new and wish ters Patent 1. A water-tight joint comprisingtudinal wooden strips having oppositely disposed longitudinal recessesalong their adjacent faces and having an angular crevice therebetween, aspline in said recess, an elastic non-fibrous, water-proof packingadjacent said spline and partly filling said to cover byLetlongicrevice, and a hard cementitious material partly iilling saidLrecess, and a cementitious 10 filling said crevice outside of saidpacking. material filling said crevice outside of said 2. AA Water-tightjoint comprising Vpa'rpacking.

allel Wooden strips having triangular re- In testimony whereof I affixmy signature. cesses alon their adjacent edges and have ing an anggularcrevice between their faces, SAMUEL THORNTON a diamond-shaped spline insaid recesses, an Witnesses: elastic Water-proofing composition restingJ. E. MCDONALD, against the outer portion of said spline and ALEXMCDONALD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

